In the following tests, we examine the DVD reading capabilities of the drive (error correction) with scratched / defective DVD media. For the tests, we used Opti Drive Control and Nero CDSpeed utilities. The reference test media comes from ALMEDIO.

- Single Layer media

ABEX TDR-821

This is a single sided, single layer DVD-ROM with a 4.7GB capacity, and its surface has an artificial scratch of dimensions varying from 0.4 to 3.0 mm.

The following transfer rate picture comes from the Opti Drive Control transfer rate test:

Nice reading here with the defected area not to affect reading.

ABEX TDR-825

This is also a single sided, single layer DVD-ROM of 4.7GB capacity. The data structure of the disc is exactly the same as that of the TDR-821, with the difference that there are no scratches on it but instead, defective areas of dimensions ranging from 0.5 to 1.1 mm. There are also fingerprints sized between 65 and 75 micrometers.

The disc was readable but the software gave an error again, during the seek times test.

- Dual Layer media

ABEX TDR-841

This is an 8.5GB dual layer, single sided DVD-ROM disc with artificial scratches of dimensions ranging from 0.4 to 3.0mm, on both layers.

Some read errors were reported near the end of Layer 0 of this disc.

ABEX TDR-845

The disc is a single sided, dual layer DVD-ROM disc with a capacity of 8.5GB. The only difference between the TDR-845 and the TDR-841 is that the first includes defective areas and fingerprints.

The drive gave back some read errors at around the 1.7GB mark as well as it was trying to access the data in the second layer (layer 1) of the disc.

ABEX TDV-541

The TDV-541 is a single sided, dual layer DVD-VIDEO disc, with a capacity of 8.5GB.The disc is based upon the TDV-540 series which is designed for inspection and adjustment of DVD-VIDEO players. The disc checks the layer switch operation from layer 0 to layer 1 and also includes test pictures and test signals for DVD sound files.

The LiteOn drive wasn't able to complete the reading process, and many reading problems were reported.

Below you can see the transfer rate test of the sane test disc using Nero DiscSpeed:

Reading stopped right before the end of Layer 0, at the same position where it gave the first read errors in the previous test with the Opti Drive Control utility.

ABEX TDV-545

The TDV-545 disc is based on the TDV-540 series. It is a single sided, dual layer DVD-VIDEO disc with a capacity of 8.5GB.The TDV-545 includes artificial black dots on the data surface, sized from 0.4 to 1.0 mm. It also has 65 - 75 micrometer fingerprints.

Once again, the drive had problems reading the disc flawlessly.

- Overall

The defects on the surface of the most of the ABEX test discs were not overcome and the drive did not manage to read to the data successfully. The drive definitely needs some work here.